Jun 19, 2022
With the upcoming anime adaptation it’s imperative to let people know how goddamn good this manga is. Now I don’t like idol anime. The only idol show that was pretty decent was Zombieland Saga. Oshi no Ko, however, has become one of my most favorite manga recently despite having idol aspects. Let me tell you why.
The most appealing part of the manga when reading is actually the story developments. The main character’s favorite idol is pregnant and he has to ensure a safe delivery for her. Suddenly, he dies and gets reincarnated as her child… ok… weird. Despite the wacky introduction to the story, it
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serves as a gateway into show business from a perspective of an average person. From birth, both Aqua and Ruby (born as twins) have to navigate the entertainment industry. Seeming like a dream at first, they come to realize that show business is much darker than they would imagine.
[Minor Spoilers in this next paragraph]
The reason this manga sets itself apart from so many others of the same type is the way the author handles presenting the darker undertones of showbiz. The manga takes a look at a variety of entertainment such as acting from Aqua’s perspective, idoling(?) from Ruby’s, and more such as social media usage, youtube, and streaming. While each industry appears calm on the surface, a closer look reveals aspects that want to go unseen. Relentless bullying from people on social media that could lead to suicide, someone not fitting into the socially accepted age group and having to give up on their dreams, being unable to escape preconceived ideas because of their past, jealousy, revenge, murder. Oshi no Ko brings a lot to the table, certainly setting itself apart from “just another idol show”.
That isn’t to say the entire manga is a depressing look at the dark side of the entertainment industry because outside of those moments it is quite enjoyable as a simple ‘making it big’ story or achieving one’s dreams. Quite a bit of the story focuses on Ruby’s journey as an idol and Aqua’s as an actor. Cute light-hearted moments from the private lives of celebrities balance the dark aspects of showbiz. A touch of school and romance leaves the story at the nice place, giving something for everyone without making it too convoluted. The art only adds to this and is what originally caught my eye originally when entering the manga. From the limited amount of manga I have read, this has become my favoirte art style. It’s hard to describe without you just reading it yourself but easily a 10/10.
All in all, Oshi no Ko is one of the most unique recent gen manga and one of the most enjoyable at that. While seemingly off putting at first, it delves deep into the dark side of showbiz, exposing what it truly means to be a star. I strongly, strongly, strongly recommend to read the first 10 chapters (vol 1) and make an opinion only after reading those 10. This is my second ever review so please don’t be too harsh. Thank you for reading.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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